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Workshop on European information technology standardization and certification policy — introduction and discussion
North-Holland
41
Microprocessingand Microprogramming 17 (1986) 41-43
BCEF GHIJK L M OPQ UV WXYZ
Standards Section Editor: Harald Schumny
Workshop on European Information Technology Standardization and Certification PolicyIntroduction and Discussion Industrial engineers and managers learned very early that standards entail more benefit than hindrance. Therefore most of the important national and international standards organizations were founded between about 1890 and 1920. Later followed 'regional' associations and institutions, e.g. in Europe the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) and the joint institutions CEN/CENELEC (Comit~ Europ6en de Normalisation/CEN Electrotechnique) which are the 'official' standards organizations of the European Community (EC). CEN/CENELEC organized the workshop on European Information Technology (IT) Standardization and Certification Policy which took place on 26 March 1985 in Brussels. The Call for participation was introduced by the following: 'Two major aspects in the area of Information Technology are complexity and rapid evolution. The European Community, the Joint European Standards Institutions, CEN/CENELEC, the European Conference of Post and Telecommunications, CEPT, have already begun a series of joint actions in order to launch a Standardization program in the field of Information Technology, based on a priority plan. 'This plan has received the support of many industrial firms, who are committed to promotion and application of international standards in their products. This plan has attracted wide support from users.
'The purpose of the workshop is to provide information to a wide audience on structures, procedures and means being envisaged to obtain timely solutions at the European level in Information Technology standardizaton and related Conformity Testing and Certification.' Welcome and introduction entitled 'The importance of standardization in the overall CEC strategy for Information Technology and Telecommunications' were given by the Director-General of CEC, Mr. Carpentier. He pointed out that the importance of standardization is related to the efficiency of an information society, its impact on the Community market, and the development of a competitive European industry. The presentation included the following statements: Modern informatics is not possible without standardization; the European IT industry needs a minimum stock of harmonized standards; many of the still existing differences can only be characterized as an anachronism; main goals of IT standardization are to remove obstructions, promote information exchange, and improve the European market. Mr. Audoux, another CEC representative, lectured on 'The policy of the European Community in the field of IT standardization' and summarized that the systematic digitalization of the signals which carry the information of a modern society represents a new challenge for Information Technology standardization, especially within the con-
42
Standards
text of the problems related to the exchange of information between heterogeneous equipment ('going digital.., and still communicate'). Solutions can only be found on the basis of international standards. But the application of such standards requires some actions specific to this field and more disciplined efforts to restore their credibility. It was said that IT standards are often complex and something like a 'sealed book' to users. A typical example mentioned was the ISO Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model (ISO 7498). Another main problem is conformance testing which was characterized by the metaphor of a credibility gap. Although existing standards are often unsatisfactory, the Community approach is: First priority will be given to international standards (ISO, IEC, CCITT); everything should be done to restore the credibility of these standards; all technical work has to be entrusted to the existing standards bodies; 'synergy' between information technology and telecommunication is a main motto among others. The Vice-President of CEN, Mr. B. Vaucelle, reported upon 'Procedures, structures and means for the European IT standardization'. Again deficiencies of e.g. ISO standards were criticized, but it was clearly pointed out that the European Community has not planned to develop its own standards. All working and ad hoc groups are advisory or steering expert bodies and will be dissolved after having finished their work. One main result discussed was the European document HD 40 001 which is a combination of 30 international IT standards. This so called Reference Standard is based on the one hand on international standards (the Basic Documents), on the other hand it should be the basis of European Functional Standards designated as EN... 'Rules for the application of (function)'. Document HD 40 001 had been circulated throughout West-Europe. All countries answered, and transmitted lots of comments and requests concerning the ideas, procedures and choice of Basic Documents. The European 'Functional Standards' (FS) program will continue by incorporating minor requests and discussing major objections. This will be followed by a revision of HD 40 001, submission of a voting report, organization of national infor-
mation panels, and final publication. Mr. D. Gagliardi from CEPT (European Conference of Post and Telecommunications) spoke about 'Assuring worldwide communications for information through coordinated standardization and certification'. He first of all called for a consistent European harmonization policy in the IT field and formulated the 'motive' elements to be: development of technology; extension of networks; extension and differentiation of services; keen competition on the market; monopoly problems; central role of communications in society. As main fields of activity in harmonization policy the following have been specified: commercial, industrial, and tariff problems in the development of networks and services; - problems of operation and procedures for access to the services; planning of intercontinental connections; policy of using regional satellites; - technical specification for the equipment; - procedures for the acceptance and use of the equipment. Especially the opening-up of markets was declared to be important and subdivided into (a) monopolistic economy and (b) free market economy. In any case, international specifications are necessary to ensure equal conditions; they must be suitable in order to avoid the dissemination of incompatible solutions, to allow realization at the right moment, to favour agreements on the industrial level. Together with other European bodies, CEPT pleads for coordination of all activities to avoid double work, and it endeavours to come to common specifications. In relation to international bodies the position should be delimited as follows: definition of a uniform European point of view; completion of the specifications with respect to Europe's needs; influence of'international' specifications; - preparation of specifications for subjects of typical interest to Europe. The 'Contribution of the European IT industry to the evolution of standardization policy in Europe' was treated next by two speakers of a Round Table of 12 European firms (AEG, Bull, CGE, GEC, ICL, Nixdorf, Olivetti, Philips, Plessey, Sie-
-
-
-
-
-
Standards
mens, Stet, Thomson) which had started work in 1983 by creating SPAG (Standards Promotion and Application Group). Three main items of this group of '12' are: a functional selection of standards and options in high-priority domains, where stable standards exist; commitments to demonstrate the implementation of such selected standards by demonstrator projects; - request for support from national and EC administrations by a public procurement policy. In October 1984, the group submitted a proposal to the European Commission as a first release for a 'Guide to the use of standards'. The speaker added that 'the next step will be products corresponding to the definitions retained, and enforcement by public procurement. This is far from the beginning of the end, but hopefully the end of the beginning'. The next speaker was Mr. W.K. Wiechers, president of CENELEC, with a detailed presentation of 'the role of CEN/CENELEC in the verification and certification of conformity to standards in the IT field'. One main reflection has been that 'testing and certification of conformity to standards is never a goal in itself but only a means to protect buyers of a product against the risk of, for instance, product unsafety, incapability to interwork with other prod-
-
43
ucts, insufficient durability. In the IT field the main driving force behind a market need for testing and certification will be the wish to be protected against incapability to interwork with other products'. Another paper was presented by Prof. Zander of the Hahn-Meitner-Institute in Berlin. Its 10 theses for users' requests, actions and questions reflect broad experience and propose a number of solutions related to the European IT standardization and certification policy. Finishing the lectures, Mr. E. Pelletier, France, formulated 'requirements and expectations of the large users with respect to network standardization'. He pointed out that the market usually operates on or with de facto solutions. If there are no European proposals, then this will remain true for IT equipment and networks, too. The closing discussion disclosed some scepticism especially formulated by representatives of national standardization bodies and by ECMA (the European Computer Manufacturers Association), the latter being well known as an efficiently working standardization organization. But it seems that most manufacturers and users welcome the joint European efforts to harmonize IT standards and arrive at compatibility through verification of conformity to standards in the IT field.
41
Microprocessingand Microprogramming 17 (1986) 41-43
BCEF GHIJK L M OPQ UV WXYZ
Standards Section Editor: Harald Schumny
Workshop on European Information Technology Standardization and Certification PolicyIntroduction and Discussion Industrial engineers and managers learned very early that standards entail more benefit than hindrance. Therefore most of the important national and international standards organizations were founded between about 1890 and 1920. Later followed 'regional' associations and institutions, e.g. in Europe the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) and the joint institutions CEN/CENELEC (Comit~ Europ6en de Normalisation/CEN Electrotechnique) which are the 'official' standards organizations of the European Community (EC). CEN/CENELEC organized the workshop on European Information Technology (IT) Standardization and Certification Policy which took place on 26 March 1985 in Brussels. The Call for participation was introduced by the following: 'Two major aspects in the area of Information Technology are complexity and rapid evolution. The European Community, the Joint European Standards Institutions, CEN/CENELEC, the European Conference of Post and Telecommunications, CEPT, have already begun a series of joint actions in order to launch a Standardization program in the field of Information Technology, based on a priority plan. 'This plan has received the support of many industrial firms, who are committed to promotion and application of international standards in their products. This plan has attracted wide support from users.
'The purpose of the workshop is to provide information to a wide audience on structures, procedures and means being envisaged to obtain timely solutions at the European level in Information Technology standardizaton and related Conformity Testing and Certification.' Welcome and introduction entitled 'The importance of standardization in the overall CEC strategy for Information Technology and Telecommunications' were given by the Director-General of CEC, Mr. Carpentier. He pointed out that the importance of standardization is related to the efficiency of an information society, its impact on the Community market, and the development of a competitive European industry. The presentation included the following statements: Modern informatics is not possible without standardization; the European IT industry needs a minimum stock of harmonized standards; many of the still existing differences can only be characterized as an anachronism; main goals of IT standardization are to remove obstructions, promote information exchange, and improve the European market. Mr. Audoux, another CEC representative, lectured on 'The policy of the European Community in the field of IT standardization' and summarized that the systematic digitalization of the signals which carry the information of a modern society represents a new challenge for Information Technology standardization, especially within the con-
42
Standards
text of the problems related to the exchange of information between heterogeneous equipment ('going digital.., and still communicate'). Solutions can only be found on the basis of international standards. But the application of such standards requires some actions specific to this field and more disciplined efforts to restore their credibility. It was said that IT standards are often complex and something like a 'sealed book' to users. A typical example mentioned was the ISO Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model (ISO 7498). Another main problem is conformance testing which was characterized by the metaphor of a credibility gap. Although existing standards are often unsatisfactory, the Community approach is: First priority will be given to international standards (ISO, IEC, CCITT); everything should be done to restore the credibility of these standards; all technical work has to be entrusted to the existing standards bodies; 'synergy' between information technology and telecommunication is a main motto among others. The Vice-President of CEN, Mr. B. Vaucelle, reported upon 'Procedures, structures and means for the European IT standardization'. Again deficiencies of e.g. ISO standards were criticized, but it was clearly pointed out that the European Community has not planned to develop its own standards. All working and ad hoc groups are advisory or steering expert bodies and will be dissolved after having finished their work. One main result discussed was the European document HD 40 001 which is a combination of 30 international IT standards. This so called Reference Standard is based on the one hand on international standards (the Basic Documents), on the other hand it should be the basis of European Functional Standards designated as EN... 'Rules for the application of (function)'. Document HD 40 001 had been circulated throughout West-Europe. All countries answered, and transmitted lots of comments and requests concerning the ideas, procedures and choice of Basic Documents. The European 'Functional Standards' (FS) program will continue by incorporating minor requests and discussing major objections. This will be followed by a revision of HD 40 001, submission of a voting report, organization of national infor-
mation panels, and final publication. Mr. D. Gagliardi from CEPT (European Conference of Post and Telecommunications) spoke about 'Assuring worldwide communications for information through coordinated standardization and certification'. He first of all called for a consistent European harmonization policy in the IT field and formulated the 'motive' elements to be: development of technology; extension of networks; extension and differentiation of services; keen competition on the market; monopoly problems; central role of communications in society. As main fields of activity in harmonization policy the following have been specified: commercial, industrial, and tariff problems in the development of networks and services; - problems of operation and procedures for access to the services; planning of intercontinental connections; policy of using regional satellites; - technical specification for the equipment; - procedures for the acceptance and use of the equipment. Especially the opening-up of markets was declared to be important and subdivided into (a) monopolistic economy and (b) free market economy. In any case, international specifications are necessary to ensure equal conditions; they must be suitable in order to avoid the dissemination of incompatible solutions, to allow realization at the right moment, to favour agreements on the industrial level. Together with other European bodies, CEPT pleads for coordination of all activities to avoid double work, and it endeavours to come to common specifications. In relation to international bodies the position should be delimited as follows: definition of a uniform European point of view; completion of the specifications with respect to Europe's needs; influence of'international' specifications; - preparation of specifications for subjects of typical interest to Europe. The 'Contribution of the European IT industry to the evolution of standardization policy in Europe' was treated next by two speakers of a Round Table of 12 European firms (AEG, Bull, CGE, GEC, ICL, Nixdorf, Olivetti, Philips, Plessey, Sie-
-
-
-
-
-
Standards
mens, Stet, Thomson) which had started work in 1983 by creating SPAG (Standards Promotion and Application Group). Three main items of this group of '12' are: a functional selection of standards and options in high-priority domains, where stable standards exist; commitments to demonstrate the implementation of such selected standards by demonstrator projects; - request for support from national and EC administrations by a public procurement policy. In October 1984, the group submitted a proposal to the European Commission as a first release for a 'Guide to the use of standards'. The speaker added that 'the next step will be products corresponding to the definitions retained, and enforcement by public procurement. This is far from the beginning of the end, but hopefully the end of the beginning'. The next speaker was Mr. W.K. Wiechers, president of CENELEC, with a detailed presentation of 'the role of CEN/CENELEC in the verification and certification of conformity to standards in the IT field'. One main reflection has been that 'testing and certification of conformity to standards is never a goal in itself but only a means to protect buyers of a product against the risk of, for instance, product unsafety, incapability to interwork with other prod-
-
43
ucts, insufficient durability. In the IT field the main driving force behind a market need for testing and certification will be the wish to be protected against incapability to interwork with other products'. Another paper was presented by Prof. Zander of the Hahn-Meitner-Institute in Berlin. Its 10 theses for users' requests, actions and questions reflect broad experience and propose a number of solutions related to the European IT standardization and certification policy. Finishing the lectures, Mr. E. Pelletier, France, formulated 'requirements and expectations of the large users with respect to network standardization'. He pointed out that the market usually operates on or with de facto solutions. If there are no European proposals, then this will remain true for IT equipment and networks, too. The closing discussion disclosed some scepticism especially formulated by representatives of national standardization bodies and by ECMA (the European Computer Manufacturers Association), the latter being well known as an efficiently working standardization organization. But it seems that most manufacturers and users welcome the joint European efforts to harmonize IT standards and arrive at compatibility through verification of conformity to standards in the IT field.